What is Metal New Artist Network?
Since July 2020, Metal have hosted a digital programme of support for early-career artists, those in their first few years of defining themselves as an artist. The programme consists of artist talks, creative workshops, paid artist residencies, professional mentoring and networking sessions.
See our training archive below to explore top tips and creative exercises from previous guest speakers.
With over 500 network members, we support people from all artistic practices and backgrounds.
Though this programme welcomes emerging artists from across the UK and overseas, we are particularly interested in how we can help early-career artists who live or work in our host cities of Liverpool, Peterborough and Southend on Sea.
Want to join?
Click here to join Metal New Artist Network and tell us about your practice.
By completing this short survey, we invite you to have your say on our future programme, and how best we can respond to the challenges faced by early-career artists.
By responding to the survey, you will be signed up to MNAN’s monthly MNAN newsletter, giving you exclusive access to our free artist talks, call-outs for paid opportunities, info on residencies and links to wider opportunities across the UK.
You can also join our closed Facebook group here to share work and meet others.
Who do we mean by Early Career Artists*?
● those who are aged 18+ in their 1st to 4th year of creative practice, post-student status (if applicable)
● those who left school and did not enter Higher Education but still keep up a regular creative practice
● those who have recently graduated in the past three years
● those who have entered the arts later in life after pursuing a different occupation and are within the first four years of this.
*This is not an exhaustive list, and Metal welcomes artists from all disciplines; theatre, visual art, film, music, writing or a mixture of some or all. Metal are particularly interested in supporting artists from diverse backgrounds, with unique personal perspectives to offer. If you’re unsure whether you fall into the early career category please get in touch with the site most local to you.
To discover even more about what our Metal New Artist Network offers, click here.
This programme is supported by Festival Bridge, Curious Minds, Royal Opera House Bridge and Arts Council England.
Training Archive
See below for top tips and creative exercises to support all practices, from our previous guest speakers.
FILMS
What 2 Do Online with Travis Alabanza.
Getting Paid with Emma Edmondson.
If You Can’t Plug Yourself… with Tammy Reynolds
Planning And Working Collaboratively With People, with Xavier de Sousa
Project Management, with 12ø Collective
Assembling a website with Laura Trevail
How to engage audiences with your creative project with Dora Colquhoun
DOWNLOADABLE TOP TIPS
Sorting your Freelance Artist Finances with Remi Harris.
Writing your artist bio with Talia Randall
17 tips to overcome imposter syndrome from Ella Mesma
Staying Motivated with Amy Pennington
Top Tips from Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy
Residencies: The who, why, where & what of doing one with Robyn Woolston
How To Get Started Selling Products Online, with Becka Griffin
Zine Resources from Seleena Laverne Daye
Going Public: Documenting & Presenting Your Work with Jessie Brennan
Making Work Outside The Gallery by Becca & Clare
Getting To Grips with Arts Council Funding by Rachel Dobbs
Top Tips for Applying For Commissions, Residencies and Callouts with Axis and Open Eye Gallery
Amateurs Forever: 18 lessons learned of DIY, collaboration & care by Sophie Chapman
Balance or Bust : 6 Tips to Sustain Balance in Artistic Life by Caroline Smith
Trusting the process resources by Poonam Dhuffer at YSM8
CREATIVE EXERCISES
Souvenirs with Kate Genever : Inspiration and creative activities around postal art and collage.
Write the Manifesto and Create a Placard with Scottee : Two short scribbling tasks to help you understand why you want to make work and who it is for.
Fold your own Zine and Top Tips for Zine Makers with Lu Williams. Make your own mini zine using this A4 template, in order to develop and share your ideas.
The Metal New Artist Network is made possible with thanks for the Foyle Foundation
